By Paul E. Pratt | SACOBSERVER.COM CORRESPONDENT

When Mary Wilson joined a group of childhood friends to form The Supremes, she says the girls knew immediately they were fabulous. Still, growing up in Detroit during the socially volatile and racially oppressive 1960s, the quartet never imagined they would one day be the most successful female musical group of all-time.

"How could anyone imagine that when we couldn't even drink out of public water fountains?" Wilson asks during a recent visit to San Francisco's CBS 5 studios. "You have no idea what that is like, so to go out and dream we would become big stars? Now, yes, but not then. Black people didn't become stars, but we knew we were great!"

As Wilson notes though, "talent cuts through whatever is going on and is noticed."

Fortunately for the singer, her talents showed early in life. Growing up, friends thought Wilson might become a movie star because she "was always entertaining."

"I absolutely adore being in front of people," she admits. "If you're a painter, you pick up a brush and create something beautiful. My talent has always been performing. Not necessarily singing, performing."

After a talent show to cast members of a sister act for Motown recording artists The Primes - later known as The Temptations -- Wilson joined Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Barbara McGlown as The Primettes. Renamed The Supremes, the girls rose to fame during a period of racial segregation and tension on the cusp of social awareness. Wilson counts The Supremes' early success as a "component of social change."

"We were liked by all, and it brought people together," Wilson says proudly. "People liked us even though we were Black, watching us despite the fact."

After an engagement in Miami Beach, FL, the singer remembers being approached by a fan. A White woman, she told the stars, "I let my children listen to you every Sunday on The Ed Sullivan Show."

"People were upset by that, but we understood what she was saying," Wilson recalls. "It was different for any other ethnic group to like someone Black. If they did listen to Black music, they listened in quiet. I think what she was saying was very important."

More than 45 years in the public eye, a dozen trips to the top of pop charts and two best-selling books have taught Wilson countless life lessons such as this. The singer considers her mother, who faced a lifelong battle with illiteracy, her greatest teacher.

"She was one of the most beautiful people I have ever met, and I have met some people," Wilson says of her storied career. "I have met royalty, presidents, prime ministers, the Bob Hopes and Sammy Davises. I have met all kinds of people from high places, but I grew up with my mother, and she was an angel."

To honor her mother, Wilson returned to college and received an associate's degree from New York University in 2001. She would never trade the lessons taught by her mother for anything found in a book, though.

"I saw her struggle all her life to learn to write her name, but I also saw love, compassion, understanding," Wilson says. "Education is great, but we have a lot of educated people who are fools."

Wilson is no fool either. She recognizes other musical acts are gunning for chart records held by The Supremes. From 1964-69, The Supremes racked up an even dozen No. 1 singles. When Ross and Ballard left for other endeavors, Wilson kept the act going. When she finally dissolved The Supremes in 1977, they had amassed 33 Top 40 hits.

It will certainly take time and effort for another group to succeed. If they do, it's fine by Wilson.

"Life goes on," she says with a smile. "If someone comes along and has 13 No. 1 singles, that's great. It will never take away what we accomplished. They might hold a new record, but they'll never be The Supremes."